Cage Wash Technician

Princeton University’s Laboratory Animal Resource (LAR) group is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Office of the Dean for Research. LAR provides animal and veterinary care for all research animals at the University. The Cage Wash Technician is an essential-services role responsible for operating and maintaining cage-washing equipment across all LAR facilities, which house rodents, aquatics, and USDA-covered species.

Responsibilities

• Provide animal care for all species according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including sanitizing cages, water bottles, food bins, and other equipment.
• Maintain cleanliness of animal rooms, procedure rooms, hallways, and support areas; keep accurate records related to animal support areas.
• Operate cage-wash machinery (mechanical cage, rack, and tunnel washers), ventilated rodent caging, Avidity watering systems, bedding dispensing/disposal units, autoclaves, and other animal-care equipment while following safety procedures.
• Report facility maintenance issues to the Lead Animal Technician and LAR Facility Manager.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance on cage-wash equipment and autoclaves, including inspection of cleaning filters.
• Monitor, document, and report deviations in environmental parameters such as room temperature, humidity, lighting, and air quality.
• Receive and maintain adequate inventory of cleaning materials, chemicals, PPE, bedding, food, and dietary supplements; ensure proper labeling of expiration dates.
• Enter data accurately and timely into electronic management systems, husbandry logs, vivarium calendar, and time-reporting system.
• As essential-services staff, work during scheduled or unscheduled closures due to emergencies or other situations; work weekends and holidays as scheduled.
• Cross-train and provide absentee support for other animal-care technicians, including cage-changing tasks.
• Rotate with other technicians for weeknight, weekend, and holiday coverage as needed.
• Exhibit willingness to assume additional responsibilities and expand knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Requirements

• Willing and able to work safely with biological and chemical hazards.
• Basic knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species, including non-human primates.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laboratory animal-resources team and share husbandry knowledge with staff, students, and researchers.
• Proven ability to work independently, communicate across organizational levels, and collaborate within a diverse team.
• Proficient knowledge of federal, state, and local Animal Welfare legislation; ability to balance optimal animal care, research goals, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to handle assignments and changing priorities as circumstances arise.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both in person and via email.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Applications (Outlook) and electronic animal-management programs.
• Must achieve ALAT certification within the first year of employment and maintain it through ongoing professional development.
• Ability to follow tasks from beginning to completion and meet supervisor deadlines and university requirements.
• Ability to preserve confidential information in accordance with university and departmental policies.
• Successful completion of a background review and physical capacity exam.

Skills

• Stand or walk continuously for up to 6 hours per day.
• Sit for up to 2 hours per day.
• Lift or carry up to 20 pounds frequently (34–66% of the day) and up to 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% of the day).
• Push or pull using forces up to 50 pounds frequently (34–66% of the day).
• Use hands for simple grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulations constantly (more than 66% of the day).
• Kneel, bend, squat, reach overhead, lift overhead, or push/pull frequently (34–66% of the day).
• Knee-stand, crawl, or climb step stools or 6-foot stepladders occasionally (less than 33% of the day).
• Lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist height and up to 20 pounds from floor to overhead.
• Work in a controlled laboratory environment under varying temperature and humidity conditions.
• Maintain balance, full range of body motions, and perform physical tasks.

Pay

$47,000 to $52,000 per year.

Schedule

• 40 hours per week.
• Eligible for overtime.
• Essential-services personnel; may require work during scheduled or unscheduled closures, weekends, and holidays.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit program available to eligible employees. More information.